Weather in the Science Classroom Using technology in the classroom is almost a necessity for students to be engaged in a well rounded way. Technology can allow students to view simulations, animations, real weather circumstances and so much more. Teaching a weather unit using different technologies available on the internet can really provide an amazing opportunity for both you and your students. Below I've listed some of the sites I've come across through searching, word of mouth, listservs, etc.
1. American Meteorological Society
The AMS Weather Education Resource Page is the place where information is found or can be located that provides weather and weather education information for students, parents, teachers and the general public.
Satellite Meteorology provides scientists and educators with exciting tools for investigation, inquiry and analysis. This Satellite Meteorology course was developed for middle and high school science classes. Modules were designed to serve as stand-alone lessons, however, they strongly encourage a sequential approach to the material. They have cool hands-on activities, the ability to identify clouds from below above, and allows for monitoring of wild weather and global conditions. It has great access to Real Time and Imagery and Data.
The Online Meteorology Guide is a collection of web-based instructional modules that use multimedia technology and the dynamic capabilities of the web. These resources incorporate text, colorful diagrams, animation, computer simulations, audio and video to introduce fundamental concepts in the atmospheric sciences. The pages link to relevant classroom activities and current weather products to reinforce topics discussed in the modules and allow the user to apply what has been learned to real-time weather data. Available modules are listed below.
**Light and Optics**The interaction between light and atmospheric particles and the colorful optical effects that result. Clouds and Precipitation Cloud classifications and the processes by which clouds and precipitation develop. Forces and Winds Forces that influence the flow of air and how they interact to produce wind. Air Masses and Fronts The most common types of air masses and fronts, plus a look at the different types of advection. Weather Forecasting General forecasting methods, important surface features, plus forecasting tips for different scenarios. Severe Storms The online version of NOAA's Severe Storm Spotters Guide. Investigates the different types of thunderstorms, their associated components, plus an in depth look at tornadoes. Hurricanes The anatomy of hurricanes, how they develop and why they are so dangerous. El Niño Why El Niño develops and the global impact it has on weather patterns and economics. Hydrologic Cycle The circulation and conservation of the earth's water.
This is a web-based instructional resources gold mine! Formerly known as the Guide to Meteorology, this site has expanded resources beyond the scope of meteorology to other disciplines like climate, remote sensing and global change. They compiled them in an attempt to present these topics not as individual sciences, but as integral components of a much larger system, learning about the planet on which we live. The topics include the following.
**Meteorology**Instructional modules that introduce topics in meteorology from fronts to El Niño. Remote Sensing Instructional modules that introduce remote sensing technologies and their applications in meteorology. Reading and Interpreting Weather Maps Instructional resources that provide valuable information for the correct interpretation of weather products accessible (or soon to be accessible) from WW2010. Projects & Activities Curriculum aids that provide teachers with a blueprint for integrating web-based educational resources into the classroom.
5. SciStarter
SciStarter brings together the millions of citizen scientists in the world and the thousands of potential projects offered by researchers, organizations, and companies. It also brings the resources, products, and services that enable citizens to pursue and enjoy these activities. The site aims to enable and encourage people to learn about, participate in, and contribute to science through both informal recreational activities and formal research efforts. They also want to inspire greater appreciation and promote a better understanding of science and technology among the general public.
Projects are listed for you to participate in, along with the necessary things you need to know to complete the project. Here is an example project called OPAL Climate Survey.
NOAA calls these games, but they are so much more. There are some great simulation opportunities to help students understand some of the concepts surrounding weather. The two I particularly recommend are Lightning and Thunder and Storm Tracker.
The links below are designed for teachers to use in the classroom or as background reference material. Since the creation of this page, there has been an updated website created with newer material. I'll post that as Number 9 on my list.
Weather
Weather You can find information about tornadoes, hurricanes, flash floods, tsunamis and all kinds of hazardous weather.
Climate Change
Climate Change and Our Planet You can find information about climate change, earth science and sciences as it relates to our planet.
Oceans and Coasts
Oceans and Coasts This category includes information about fish, marine mammals, our coasts, navigation and the many facets of the waters that surround our nation.
Satellites and Space
Satellites and Space This category includes information about satellites and space.
Training & Other Opportunities
Training & Other OpportunitiesThis category includes information about Operation Pathfinder, the Bridge, NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program, as well as external links to other websites.
This NOAA Education Resources portal is designed to assist educators in accessing these materials from one centralized interface. The content here is a sampling of NOAA's education resources and more can be found at each linked location. Linked resources are organized into Collections, which provide the user with a toolkit of materials and activities suitable for integration into a variety of educational settings. Collections are not grade specific but resources are labeled for grade appropriateness where applicable. Additional NOAA resources which support educator professional development, academic scholarship, career exploration, and education grants are also available.
The JASON Project is a middle school science curriculum program that is designed to motivate and inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The JASON Project's approach to science education immerses students in challenging, real-world situations where they are connected with – and mentored by – top scientists from organizations like NASA, NOAA, the U.S. Department of Energy and parent company National Geographic Society. JASON creates these connections using multiple technologies – including educational games, videos, live interactivity and social networking – to embed its partners' cutting-edge research in rigorous curricula. There are many topics, including weather, geology, physics and chemistry. Digital Labs,
Learn how to report and predict the weather at the underground W.H.E.D. weather caves. Either follow along with the Weather-tron to help report the weather or take over the Predict-o-Matic and predict the weather three days into the future.
Weather Flash!
Help Stan the Weatherman out with his forecasts.
Wild Weather Adventure!
Wild Weather Adventure!
Be the first to pilot your Weather Airship from San Francisco, California, USA, all the way around the world and back across the USA to Miami, Florida.
Weather Games and Simulations - Educational and Fun Games
FEMA Weather Games and Puzzles for Kids An amazing array of weather games await you at FEMA. While there are other earth science related activities also listed, most of the games are weather related. Examples include the snowman game, the disaster maze, and lightning and thunderstorm quiz materials. While dedicated to a younger audience, there are tons of options for having fun with the weather. The Scholastic Interactive Weather Maker Kids will get a kick out of this Flash program where you decide the weather for a day. Variables that can be manipulated include the relative humidity and the temperatures at the equator and poles. The site links into a Weather Watch page which increases student knowledge in the atmospheric sciences by giving lessons on cloud observations, weather forecasting, and the use of weather instruments. Create a Hurricane Several hurricane activities are listed here which demonstrate the power of hurricane force winds. In one game, you can create your own hurricane by choosing ocean temperatures and wind speeds. In another game, you can see the winds needed to destroy a home. Finally, you can use the Tropical Cyclone Tracker to see the path of a hurricane. The Weather Wizards from National Geographic I love this activity. This weather game puts you in the driver's seat of a storm chase vehicle. As you answer a series of questions about tornadoes, you drive closer and closer to a tornado that has been spotted on the ground. Every correct question brings you 10 miles closer to the tornado! Weather Flash from Power to Learn This weather game makes you the forecaster. As you listen to Stan the Weatherman, you have to match the weather map with the forecast he gives. With rules and hints to help along the way, you have to be quick and get six forecasts correct to win. Just read the forecast and drag the correct items over to the weather map. The Hurricane Name Game from the Southeast Regional Climate Center Do you know what names are retired for hurricanes? Each of the images in this weather challenge asks you to match the satellite image of a famous and very damaging hurricane to the names. While it can be difficult, there are hints that can be seen in the background when you look at the locations on the US map. The Wild Weather Adventure from NASA Space Place One to four players can compete in this fun weather game. The object of the game is to be the first to pilot your Weather Airship from San Francisco, California all the way around the world and back across the USA to Miami, Florida. The game is very simple to play but also technologically advanced. While many games are simple weather crosswords, this game has a full game board, spinner, and great weather and geography questions to challenge most any age level. One of the best weather games out there! The Cloud Concentration Game Learn the types of clouds from lenticular and mammatus to cumulus and stratus with this fun weather matching game. The images are spectacular and very accurate. Also included in the activities link are various weather lessons including how to make a tornado in a jar, how to determine the distance to a thunderstorm, and how to make lightning. An excellent site for teachers and students. The Hurricane Name Game from Channel One Channel One television has presented an interactive weather tool which allows users to familiarize themselves with the names of hurricanes. As you click on the letters of the alphabet, you get information on famous storms that may (or may not) share your own name. Weather Map Symbols Concentration Game Using weather map symbols as the cards for an interactive game of concentration can help students to understand the meaning of different weather symbols used on forecasting maps. While it can be played purely as a game, there is also a link to show the meaning of each symbol. Predict and Report the Weather with EdHeads See if you can do a weather forecast for 3 cities over 3 days with this fun interactive weather game. There are multiple levels of difficulty to make the game more challenging. This is one weather game you don't want to miss if you are trying to learn how weather maps work and how the weather forecast is produced across the US. Weather Map Symbols Game While looking at an animated weather map, you must test your knowledge of fronts, air masses, and temperatures. Each of the weather maps is covered with the weather symbols indicating a forecast for the United States. Questions at the bottom of the map ask you to click on the areas where there are the highest temperatures, most chance of rain, wind speeds, and more.
Table of Contents
Weather in the Science Classroom
Using technology in the classroom is almost a necessity for students to be engaged in a well rounded way. Technology can allow students to view simulations, animations, real weather circumstances and so much more. Teaching a weather unit using different technologies available on the internet can really provide an amazing opportunity for both you and your students. Below I've listed some of the sites I've come across through searching, word of mouth, listservs, etc.
1. American Meteorological Society
The AMS Weather Education Resource Page is the place where information is found or can be located that provides weather and weather education information for students, parents, teachers and the general public.
United States Weather
- Air Quality
- Floods
- Hurricanes
- Image Galleries
- Lightning
- National Weather Service
- Radar
- Satellite
- Station data
- Surface Weather Map
- Upper Air
- Tornadoes
2. Satellite Meteorology
Satellite Meteorology provides scientists and educators with exciting tools for
investigation, inquiry and analysis. This Satellite Meteorology course was developed
for middle and high school science classes. Modules were designed to serve as
stand-alone lessons, however, they strongly encourage a sequential approach
to the material. They have cool hands-on activities, the ability to identify clouds
from below above, and allows for monitoring of wild weather and global conditions.
It has great access to Real Time and Imagery and Data.
Introduction The evolution of remote sensing technology
Weather Satellites and Orbits A brief history followed by an explanation of satellite orbits and instruments
The Electromagnetic Spectrum Making the connection between light (electromagnetic radiation) and satellite images
Cloud Identification Ten Common Cloud Types and some background on how they are formed
Satellite Images Visible, Infrared, and Water Vapor Images - the three essential image types all meteorologists use
Satellite Winds Using satellite images to track winds
Weather Forecasting Using Satellite Images in Weather Forecasting
Wild Weather Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Blizzards...
Monitoring the Global Environment Using satellites to monitor the health of Earth
The Advanced Baseline Imager Improvements slated for the GOES-R launch
3. Online Guides - Meteorology
The Online Meteorology Guide is a collection of web-based instructional modules that use multimedia technology and the dynamic capabilities of the web. These resources incorporate text, colorful diagrams, animation, computer simulations, audio and video to introduce fundamental concepts in the atmospheric sciences. The pages link to relevant classroom activities and current weather products to reinforce topics discussed in the modules and allow the user to apply what has been learned to real-time weather data. Available modules are listed below.
**Light and Optics** The interaction between light and atmospheric particles and the colorful optical effects that result.
Clouds and Precipitation Cloud classifications and the processes by which clouds and precipitation develop.
Forces and Winds Forces that influence the flow of air and how they interact to produce wind.
Air Masses and Fronts The most common types of air masses and fronts, plus a look at the different types of advection.
Weather Forecasting General forecasting methods, important surface features, plus forecasting tips for different scenarios.
Severe Storms The online version of NOAA's Severe Storm Spotters Guide. Investigates the different types of thunderstorms, their associated components, plus an in depth look at tornadoes.
Hurricanes The anatomy of hurricanes, how they develop and why they are so dangerous.
El Niño Why El Niño develops and the global impact it has on weather patterns and economics.
Hydrologic Cycle The circulation and conservation of the earth's water.
4. Online Guides - Instructional Resources and Curriculum
This is a web-based instructional resources gold mine! Formerly known as the Guide to Meteorology, this site has expanded resources beyond the scope of meteorology to other disciplines like climate, remote sensing and global change. They compiled them in an attempt to present these topics not as individual sciences, but as integral components of a much larger system, learning about the planet on which we live. The topics include the following.
**Meteorology** Instructional modules that introduce topics in meteorology from fronts to El Niño.
Remote Sensing Instructional modules that introduce remote sensing technologies and their applications in meteorology.
Reading and Interpreting Weather Maps Instructional resources that provide valuable information for the correct interpretation of weather products accessible (or soon to be accessible) from WW2010.
Projects & Activities Curriculum aids that provide teachers with a blueprint for integrating web-based educational resources into the classroom.
5. SciStarter
SciStarter brings together the millions of citizen scientists in the world and the thousands of potential projects offered by researchers, organizations, and companies. It also brings the resources, products, and services that enable citizens to pursue and enjoy these activities. The site aims to enable and encourage people to learn about, participate in, and contribute to science through both informal recreational activities and formal research efforts. They also want to inspire greater appreciation and promote a better understanding of science and technology among the general public.
Projects are listed for you to participate in, along with the necessary things you need to know to complete the project. Here is an example project called OPAL Climate Survey.
Categories include:
Climate and Weather
Animals
Archaeology
Astronomy & Space
Biology
Birds
Chemistry
Computers & Technology
Ecology & Environment
Geology & Earth Science
Health & Medicine
Insects
Nature & Outdoors
Ocean & Water
Physics
Sound
6. Global Warming Facts & Our Future
7. NOAA Games - Planet Arcade
8. NOAA Education Archive
The links below are designed for teachers to use in the classroom or as background reference material. Since the creation of this page, there has been an updated website created with newer material. I'll post that as Number 9 on my list.
You can find information about tornadoes, hurricanes, flash floods, tsunamis and all kinds of hazardous weather.
You can find information about climate change, earth science and sciences as it relates to our planet.
This category includes information about fish, marine mammals, our coasts, navigation and the many facets of the waters that surround our nation.
This category includes information about satellites and space.
9. NOAA Educational Resources
This NOAA Education Resources portal is designed to assist educators in accessing these materials from one centralized interface. The content here is a sampling of NOAA's education resources and more can be found at each linked location. Linked resources are organized into Collections, which provide the user with a toolkit of materials and activities suitable for integration into a variety of educational settings. Collections are not grade specific but resources are labeled for grade appropriateness where applicable. Additional NOAA resources which support educator professional development, academic scholarship, career exploration, and education grants are also available.
10. The Jason Project
The JASON Project is a middle school science curriculum program that is designed to motivate and inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The JASON Project's approach to science education immerses students in challenging, real-world situations where they are connected with – and mentored by – top scientists from organizations like NASA, NOAA, the U.S. Department of Energy and parent company National Geographic Society. JASON creates these connections using multiple technologies – including educational games, videos, live interactivity and social networking – to embed its partners' cutting-edge research in rigorous curricula. There are many topics, including weather, geology, physics and chemistry. Digital Labs,
11. Edheads - Weather
Learn how to report and predict the weather at the
underground W.H.E.D. weather caves. Either
follow along with the Weather-tron to help report
the weather or take over the Predict-o-Matic
and predict the weather three
days into the future.
12. Utah Education Network
Cloud Match
Drag the photos of clouds on left to the correct name for that cloud on the right.
Learn how to report and predict the weather at the underground W.H.E.D. weather caves!
Let the sun shine, or make the wind blow by changing the temperature and humidity.
Professor B's Thunder and Lightning Secrets
Fill in the blanks, using the words from the drop down boxes below.
Weather Flash!
Help Stan the Weatherman out with his forecasts.
Be the first to pilot your Weather Airship from San Francisco, California, USA, all the way around the world and back across the USA to Miami, Florida.
Weather Reporter
Report and predict the weather.
13. About.com Weather
Weather Games and Simulations - Educational and Fun Games
FEMA Weather Games and Puzzles for Kids
An amazing array of weather games await you at FEMA. While there are other earth science related activities also listed, most of the games are weather related. Examples include the snowman game, the disaster maze, and lightning and thunderstorm quiz materials. While dedicated to a younger audience, there are tons of options for having fun with the weather.
The Scholastic Interactive Weather Maker
Kids will get a kick out of this Flash program where you decide the weather for a day. Variables that can be manipulated include the relative humidity and the temperatures at the equator and poles. The site links into a Weather Watch page which increases student knowledge in the atmospheric sciences by giving lessons on cloud observations, weather forecasting, and the use of weather instruments.
Create a Hurricane
Several hurricane activities are listed here which demonstrate the power of hurricane force winds. In one game, you can create your own hurricane by choosing ocean temperatures and wind speeds. In another game, you can see the winds needed to destroy a home. Finally, you can use the Tropical Cyclone Tracker to see the path of a hurricane.
The Weather Wizards from National Geographic
I love this activity. This weather game puts you in the driver's seat of a storm chase vehicle. As you answer a series of questions about tornadoes, you drive closer and closer to a tornado that has been spotted on the ground. Every correct question brings you 10 miles closer to the tornado!
Weather Flash from Power to Learn
This weather game makes you the forecaster. As you listen to Stan the Weatherman, you have to match the weather map with the forecast he gives. With rules and hints to help along the way, you have to be quick and get six forecasts correct to win. Just read the forecast and drag the correct items over to the weather map.
The Hurricane Name Game from the Southeast Regional Climate Center
Do you know what names are retired for hurricanes? Each of the images in this weather challenge asks you to match the satellite image of a famous and very damaging hurricane to the names. While it can be difficult, there are hints that can be seen in the background when you look at the locations on the US map.
The Wild Weather Adventure from NASA Space Place
One to four players can compete in this fun weather game. The object of the game is to be the first to pilot your Weather Airship from San Francisco, California all the way around the world and back across the USA to Miami, Florida. The game is very simple to play but also technologically advanced. While many games are simple weather crosswords, this game has a full game board, spinner, and great weather and geography questions to challenge most any age level. One of the best weather games out there!
The Cloud Concentration Game
Learn the types of clouds from lenticular and mammatus to cumulus and stratus with this fun weather matching game. The images are spectacular and very accurate. Also included in the activities link are various weather lessons including how to make a tornado in a jar, how to determine the distance to a thunderstorm, and how to make lightning. An excellent site for teachers and students.
The Hurricane Name Game from Channel One
Channel One television has presented an interactive weather tool which allows users to familiarize themselves with the names of hurricanes. As you click on the letters of the alphabet, you get information on famous storms that may (or may not) share your own name.
Weather Map Symbols Concentration Game
Using weather map symbols as the cards for an interactive game of concentration can help students to understand the meaning of different weather symbols used on forecasting maps. While it can be played purely as a game, there is also a link to show the meaning of each symbol.
Predict and Report the Weather with EdHeads
See if you can do a weather forecast for 3 cities over 3 days with this fun interactive weather game. There are multiple levels of difficulty to make the game more challenging. This is one weather game you don't want to miss if you are trying to learn how weather maps work and how the weather forecast is produced across the US.
Weather Map Symbols Game
While looking at an animated weather map, you must test your knowledge of fronts, air masses, and temperatures. Each of the weather maps is covered with the weather symbols indicating a forecast for the United States. Questions at the bottom of the map ask you to click on the areas where there are the highest temperatures, most chance of rain, wind speeds, and more.
14. Sky Diary
This kids' weather site offers facts, links andpictures on pages about tornadoes, lightning,hurricanes and storm chasing.
15. The Weather Dude - Nick Walker
16. Kid's Projects
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17. Intensity Scale
Click on the image below for an interactive intensity scale that measures storm damage.